Financial Aid
The Melrose School awards financial grants on the basis of need. The School uses the services of the School and Students Service for Financial Aid (SSS). SSS is an organization that provides schools you choose with an analysis of your family’s finances and suggests your contribution for educational expenses. We subscribe to the principles of SSS and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. We will do our best to meet documented need, but our own Financial Aid budget may dictate flexibility. Please note both prospective and returning families must make applications for financial aid every year.
The following documents must be submitted to SSS (please keep photocopies):
Parent’s Financial Statement (PFS). PLEASE complete this online at www.nais.org/financialaid/sss.
Prepare a check, money order, or credit card payment (online payments) for the appropriate fee.
Indicate our school code (5005) in the appropriate blank on the PFS.
Use the SSS “help line” at (866) 387-2601, or www. sssfinancialaid@ets.org if you have questions as you complete the PFS.
The following documents should be mailed directly to The Melrose School by the end of February, 2011 in order to be considered for Financial Aid:
A photocopy of both parents’ signed 2009 and 2010 IRS forms, including 1040’s, W-2’s, and all schedules. Privacy and confidentiality are respected.
The Non-custodial Parent’s Financial Statement, if applicable.
The Business/Farm Statement, if your family owns either.
Below is a basic calendar of important dates regarding the Financial Aid Application process (please note that that the dates will become more finalaized in December 2010):
February: Board of Trustee Parent Meeting – All School Meeting
February: 2010- 2011 Enrollment Agreements will be mailed
February: PLEASE complete the Financial Aid forms online at www.nais.org/financialaid/sss to ensure quick processing of your application.
Use the printed PFS Form as a worksheet when completing your application online.
Prepare your Federal Tax return first as the financial aid application is much easier to complete once you have completed IRS forms.
Note: mailing your Parent Financial Statements (PFS) to SSS will delay data return to Melrose. If you choose to mail your PFS, please do so prior to February 13th to ensure that we have the necessary information to include your family in the financial aid decisions being made in early March.
March, 2011 (the followiug are due within the first week of March)
Submit copies of your 2009 and 2010 Tax Return to Melrose (attn: Tom Burns). Privacy and confidentiality are respected.
Financial Aid Decision letters to be mailed from The Melrose School.
Signed enrollment agreements with deposit are due to Melrose.
We stress that we consider an independent school education to require the active financial support of both biological parents, if applicable. We pledge to treat these documents with the utmost confidentiality. We are committed to providing a Melrose education to as many superior scholars and citizens as possible, regardless of their family’s means, and your timely application means we can give your daughter or son the consideration she or he deserves.
If you have any questions, please contact Tom Burns, Director of Admission at Financial Aid at Melrose or (845) 279-2406